Art Break Wednesday – Mooooo-ving! My Studio, that is…

Yay Images

Yay Images

 

Hope your 2014 is off to a good start!

Just a heads’ up that my online pasture here might look a little bare this month, but that’s only because I’m moving to greener pastures very soon.  I’m boxing up art supplies and books and furniture and vintage bling and such (how in the world did I accumulate so much stuff?!) and heading from the North Georgia mountains to the South Carolina coast.

When I get all settled, I’ll post pictures of my new digs.  I’m renting a great old space in a historic building in the middle of town and can’t wait to soak up the inspiration (and the sunshine outside) and create, create, create.  More soon!

May your pastures this year be lush, and Happy Trails! :0)

A Step Ahead of the Reindeer…

stocking with artsy gifts with c
Season’s Artsy Greetings!

I hope you and yours are finding warm moments among these chilly, busy days.  My warm moments with my loved ones have involved travel in recent days, but I’m back in one of Santa’s satellite workshops creating, listing, wrapping, and packaging.  Oh, and making lots of trips to the Post Office.

I had an early Christmas gift myself – my “goal” this season was to hit 100 total Etsy shop sales before year’s end.  Happy to report that my Etsy odometer turned over to three digits this past weekend.  (And it’s added even a little more mileage since.)

screen shot at 100 etsy sales crop

According to the USPS Holiday Calendar, there’s another good week or so to get gifts on their way in the US to make it under the tree before Christmas.  I’ll keep sending as fast as folks place orders. :0) (Feel free to contact me or Convo me through Etsy if you have any questions about items or shipping, etc.)

Many thanks to my wonderful customers, friends, and creative supporters – you’ve made my season *B*R*I*G*H*T !

Cheers with cocoa and whipped cream… back to it!

 

Art Break Wednesday: Columbus Day art!

 

©Robyn Hood Black

©Robyn Hood Black

Okay, so we haven’t historically had big “Columbus Day parties” in our home.  But this coming weekend, we’re celebrating both kids home for college for Fall Break over the Columbus Day holiday.  I thought it might be a fine time to share a recent mixed media piece with a Columbus connection.

The map is an original page from the Meyers Konversations-Lexicon, Vol. 7 (G), Fourth Edition, Leipzig, Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, 1887.  Genoa was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, who penned these words in his Letter to the Sovereigns on the First Voyage, February 15-March 4, 1493 (first and rarest of printed Americana), referring to Hispaniola (today, the Dominican Republic and Haiti):

And they know neither sect nor idolatry, with the exception that all believe that the source of all power and goodness is in the sky.

This mixed media piece columbus detail 1 features various watch components and decorative metal embellishments from a variety of sources, namely antique markets and Etsy vintage shops.  A peek into how I chose to put what, where:

 

 

 

 

watch calendar numbers detailFirst, this round metal watch component with the red calendar numbers on a white background seemed perfect color-wise for the piece, and I love the suggestion of time having to do with anything historical.  I “highlighted” Columbus Piazza on the map with a small vintage silver component.

 

 

I liked the way the shape watch parts detail columbus artof these vintage watch parts seemed echoed in the shapes near them on the map, with the circle and spokes, and then the arch/ray image:

 

 

 

 

key detail columbus art

 

The shape of this old metal key seemed to suggest the shape of the docks depicted on the map.

 

 

 

And… true blue buttonI couldn’t resist adding the brass vintage “True Blue” button beside the quotation about the sky!  As far as the larger brass embellishments, I placed them at the top of the map to frame the whole image.  Notice how the “arched” piece on the right echoes the shape of the harbor at the shoreline immediately to its left.

Columbus framed

I had fun making this piece, especially working with such a lovely map in such wonderful condition.  Thanks for taking a look.  And, HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY on Monday, however you choose to celebrate it!

 (Note:  This piece is for sale and has garnered some interest at shows this fall, though it’s not currently listed in my Etsy shop.  Feel free to contact me with any questions about it. The image is approx. 9 X 11 in. ; the frame’s outer dimensions are 18 X 20.)

 

Art Break Wednesday: New Bookmarks, Old Rust

 

2 bookmarks

©Robyn Hood Black

I love my customers.  It’s been an honor to connect with old and new friends at recent shows.

Folks who are attracted to art with a literary bent are usually pretty interesting, thoughtful people. One such new acquaintance discussed a custom order option for her book club – she wanted to present the members with bookmarks as gifts and picked out a few designs for me to send her in bulk.  We got to chatting, and she said, “If you ever make a Book Club bookmark, let me know.”

“I’ve had that on my to-do list,” I said.  “How soon would you need them?”

Long story short, I came home, set up a little still life,  got out the golden-buff parchment paper and my inks and paint, and got busy.  Nothing like a “lowest prices of the year” sale at the online printer’s, ending at midnight, to spur on creativity!  (I use Overnight Prints, by the way – “the greenest online printer in the world,” so says their website.)

book club bookmark

©Robyn Hood Black

I emailed her the image I sent off for printing, and she decided to get these instead of the ones she’d picked out.  Customers do have great ideas!

Well, with that sale’s ticking deadline teasing me from my computer screen, I also got out the white paper, whipped up this “Poets” bookmark design, placed it over the illustration I’d just made (covering the Book Club lettering), scanned it in, and ordered these too.  (Love me some Gothic/black letter, I do.)  I made the deadline only because it wasn’t Eastern Standard Time there, evidently. ;0)

"Poets write between the lines"- ©Robyn Hood Black

“Poets write between the lines”
– ©Robyn Hood Black

Sometimes a little inspiration goes a long way!  I’ll get these new bookmarks listed in my Etsy shop sometime today. [DONE – Click here for the link to the Book Club bookmark, and click here for the Poets bookmark.]

In other news, we just returned from Nashville to celebrate Family Weekend with our youngest, a new college freshman.  Before we hit the honkytonks Saturday afternoon to listen to music, I dragged my guys out to find Antique Archeology, one of the storefront shops of Mike Wolfe and crew from The History Channel’s American Pickers.

Robyn and Seth - Antique Archeology truck

It was a fun stop, but heads’ up – it’s a small space (overly warm if lots of people are inside), featuring some items recognizable from episodes and primarily show souvenirs such as tee shirts, coffee cups, and the like.  I bought a cool postcard and a small poster which says “Rock the Rust” for my studio. antique archeology storefront  for blog

 

I plan to rock a lot more rust this fall, bookmark in useand more thick black lettering, too.  Wishing you a creative October, whatever time zone you’re in!

 

Art Break Wednesday – The Soak and Sun of Art in the Square

 

art in the square 2013

morgan in booth AITS 2013

“Wave, Morgan…!” :0)

Thanks to everyone who ventured out this past weekend to Art in the Square here in North Georgia.  A special shout-out to my daughter, Morgan, who interrupted her busy college studies to drive down, package cards til after midnight, get up early both days and help haul, sell, and send out some social media love.  Couldn’t have done it without her!

(She also recently set up my whole inventory on my Square register on my new iPad Mini. Can’t TELL you how easy that makes it to conduct transactions with a little less fuss and flurry!  Square keeps track of everything – cash as well as credit card sales – and now the whole process is even easier. No entering of numbers, just a few clicks!)

Saturday started out all right, but the sprinkles became drizzles and, sad for us, soon a deluge.  Show organizers came around early afternoon and said it was all right to close up and return early on Sunday.  I think just about everyone did.  Tip:  If rain’s in the forecast, don’t put your booth right up next to the curb.  The rain came in a torrent and flooded our tent.  Our show-savvy neighbor helped us move the tent up a bit. My merchandise fared all right with the tent and with plastic I brought, but Morgan and I were drenched and miserable.  A bright spot? The gentleman playing bagpipes, undeterred by rain!

bagpipes reduced

Other bright spots included friends who came by, such as Paula:robyn and paula

She has a great new blog, by the way – “Random Thoughts from the Creative Path.”

Check it out!

 

 

Sunday brought the S*U*N, and a happier vibe all around. I enjoyed meeting customers, some from last year and some brand new!

The lovely Maddie, who had been to my booth last year, came by with her family, and her mom was one of my very best customers all weekend. (Thank you!) Maddie picked out one of my favorite items, too – some really old typewriter keys I set into earrings. maddie earrings cropart in the square 2013 typewriter key earringsWhy were these special?

Well, they have neat white letters & symbols on backgrounds, but even better, along with the letter “M,” Maddie liked the number five key, which has the British pound symbol above it! Very cool. She put them right on and consented to letting me snap a picture. Isn’t she classy and gorgeous?

After some constructive comments from a couple of artsy friends at the last show, and following my own instincts as well, I opened up the layout of my booth and was really happy with the flow.

booth interior reducedI had to sacrifice one side of a panel, but the extra space was more than worth it.
art in the square 2013 panels framed art

 

 

 

 

art in the square 2013 matted lettersAll in all, even with Saturday’s washout, it was a good weekend. Thanks to my father-in-law, Reuben, who helped break down and pack up my booth after Morgan had to get back to school. I finally got my car unpacked, but don’t ask if everything’s put away yet… ;0) Some of it won’t be right away, anyway – I’ll be listing these new items I made for the show in my Etsy shop very soon!

 

 

As we soon round the corner into the holiday gift-buying season, don’t forget to support your local creative folk.  The artists who participated in Art in the Square (and ones in your town, too) offer unique and wonderful treasures, and they’re made in the USA!

(Happy First Full Week of Fall, Y’all…)

Art Break Wednesday – Decatur Book Festival Street Market Wrap-up

 

A R T booth decor DBF 2013Whew!  The streets have no doubt been swept after The Decatur Book Festival last weekend (the nation’s largest independent book festival, with 70-80,000 of your closest friends), and I’m still catching my breath.  It was strange being there as a vendor this year rather than as an author, but much fun all around, and I’d have to say a successful weekend.

The Kids' Parades are always a highlight at the Decatur Book Festival!

The Kids’ Parades are always a highlight at the Decatur Book Festival!

Here are a few pictures of my booth:

artsyletters booth 2 DBF 2013.jpg reduced

 

 

 

 

 

Robyn artsyletters booth DBF 2013 crop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

artsyletters booth DBF 2013 interior

 

 

 

 

 

 

table artsyletters booth DBF 2013small banner artsyletters DBFartsyletters booth interior DBF 2013

 

Couldn't have done it without the help of my wonderful hubby, Jeff...

Couldn’t have done it without the help of my wonderful hubby, Jeff…

 

 

leighanne and robyn DBF 2013

 

 

 

 

 

We had terrific weather on Saturday (albeit hot), but the rains blew in off and on on Sunday. Not enough to dampen spirits. I still caught up with some good writer/illustrator buds.

Fellow art critique group member Leighanne Schneider had her gorgeous art on display directly across from my booth – she’s a regular at DBF with her Doublefly Designs.

 

 

Then Leighanne and I went with Elizabeth Dulemba to go cheer on Jo Kittinger, who was presented with a community volunteer award on Sunday afternoon for her fantastic book, THE HOUSE ON DIRTY THIRD STREET, illustrated by Thomas Gonzales.

LeighanneRobynJoMe

Caught having a good time! Leighanne, Robyn, Jo, and Elizabeth. (Photo by Elizabeth’s wonderful hubby, Stan.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t believe I neglected to get a picture with the amazing Kirby Larson, but she kept coming by to brighten my day.  And buy more artsyletters merchandise to boot!   I was thrilled to meet so many new customers.  Teachers, students, poets, historians, writers, artists, calligraphers, printmakers, journalists – you all make my heart sing.

Finally, huge thanks to my daughter, Morgan Black, for getting all my inventory loaded on my Square account the night before the festival.  Everyone needs a college student on hand to help with the technology… :0)

It was a fabulous, fun weekend, and I look forward to Art in the Square here in Gainesville in just a couple of weeks!  Come on out if you’re around.

Happy Almost-Fall….

Art Break Wednesday – Dreams Great and Small

In Unity’s “Daily Word” devotional booklet entry today, there’s a quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:  “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

As we celebrate sweeping, life-affirming dreams for humanity today, I’m also thankful for smaller, individual ones.  My kids are both starting a new year in college, and my husband has just begun new, fulfilling work.  And I’m pondering that artsyletters is almost a year old! thoreau angle with c

While my business won’t fund those college educations, I feel blessed with the feedback I’ve gotten from customers this past year.  I’ve sold work to college professors, history teachers, librarians, writers & poets, artists, high school students, mothers and grandmothers and husbands – folks from across the country and even across the ocean.  And I’ve only just begun!

This weekend I’ll have a booth at the fabulous, crowded, lively Decatur Book Festival   

BOOKZILLA interpreted by Dan Santat

BOOKZILLA interpreted by Dan Santat

in Atlanta. (Not too far from the children’s stage – come on by if you’re there.)  I’ve enjoyed participating as an author before, but this will be my first time as a solo vendor.So my desk/work area pretty much looks like this:

messy desk

Multiply that, and you can imagine what my studio (and the rest of the house) looks like this week.

I will not have all the inventory I’ve imagined in my mind – so many projects, so little time!  But I won’t run out of ideas for future shows, either.  Here are some 5 X 7 pieces made with those new letterpress blocks I raved about before: dressed up letterpress A

matted letterpress letter art

 

 

 

I’ve hand-stamped the blocks with oil-based printing ink, then decorated with a dip pen and India ink (and some gold on the smaller ones) .

And because I just found a wonderful complete set of typewriter keys on Etsy, I’ve assembled a few more earrings:

typewriter key earrings

 

I’ve just sold three collages out of the blue, so I’m hoping to finish up a few more framed pieces to add to the mix.  And I need to get back to blinging up some bookmarks, packaging notecards, putting together  magnets, sprucing up booth decor…  Who needs sleep?

Wishing you a moment to pause today and think about dreams big and small, with gratitude for those who have risked their own lives to make life better for others.  And I wish you an outlet for your own creative dreams, no matter the size!

Art Break Wednesday: Trademark!

certif fancy background with trademark letter

Nice surprise in the mail this week: I’m the proud owner of a new trademark!

A business name does not have to be registered as a trademark, of course. But I wanted to give it a try. My experience was fairly fast and painless as these things go.

When contemplating starting an art business and Etsy shop last spring, I came up with lots of brilliant business names.  Only to find online that other folks had come up with said brilliant names long before I.  When “artsyletters” meandered into my mind, I was happy to discover I couldn’t find it online.  First stop:  website domain.  Then I opened an Etsy shop with the name, though I wouldn’t add any items to it for a few more months. I got a Facebook page, Twitter account and Pinterest account using it.  (Plus a few other social media outlets that I haven’t really set up yet.)

It’s somewhat easier/cheaper to get a trademark if the name is already in use by you in commerce.  So I made some sales starting in late summer last year, stocking my Etsy shop and hitting some art shows in the fall. I put my name/logo on all my products and had a banner made for my show tent. Now I was ready to apply for a trademark.  Watching the budget, I opted for LegalZoom.

My eyes tend to glaze over with legal-ese, but I was (pretty much) able to figure out the forms.  When I had questions, the LegalZoom folks responded in emails or when I called. I decided to apply in an already existing category (International Class 16) that most closely matched what I’m producing, even though I don’t make all of the items in that class (um, pressed flowers?).

They conducted an initial search.   This search brings up names of businesses which might cause confusion for consumers, and therefore might keep you from being able to trademark your chosen name.  After these results, I opted to upgrade my membership so I could speak with an attorney by phone for 30 minutes before sallying forth.  (You can upgrade without any kind of lengthy contract – in my case I did for the first couple-few months of the process so I’d have access to an attorney appointment at a very reduced rate.)

The person I spoke with was very clear, professional, and friendly.  He pointed out one other existing business name which might give the USPTO pause when considering mine, because the category of products was similar.  He said he thought I had at least a 50/50 chance of getting through the first time, though.  With those precarious odds and crossed fingers, I decided to proceed. I filed in October, I believe.

To my delight, my business name was published in the USPTO Trademark Official Gazette in March after its initial review.  This means it was “published for opposition.” Well, let me let the USPTO explain it:

If the examining attorney raises no objections to registration, or if the
applicant overcomes all objections, the examining attorney will approve the mark
for publication in the Official Gazette, a weekly publication of the
USPTO.  The USPTO will send a notice of publication to the applicant stating the
date of publication.  After the mark is published in the Official
Gazette, any party who believes it may be damaged by registration of the

mark has thirty (30) days from the publication date to file either an opposition
to registration or a request to extend the time to oppose.

I never discovered any objections, and I got the lovely certificate above in the mail this week.  The entire process can take from six months to a year, and in some cases, longer.  I was happy to enjoy pretty smooth sailing for mine.  The whole process cost me somewhere in the neighborhood of $500, with the very modestly priced phone consultation tacked onto the registration fees.

If you decide to pursue it for your business, be prepared for some other interesting mail to come your way.  I’ve had several letters from entities whose return addresses are countries in Eastern Europe, claiming to offer international “filing” or “registration” of my US trademark, all for say, a few thousand dollars.  I love the fine-print disclaimer that came in one yesterday:  “...please notice that this registration has not any connection with the publication of official registrations, and is not a registration by a government organization….” –  yet the “fee” was $2327.00.  (!)

Please also note that this little ramble in absolutely no way whatsoever constitutes any sort of legal advice, which I am unabashedly unqualified to dole out.  (Also, no animals were harmed in the composition of this blog post.) But I wanted to share this little piece of my journey for other indie artists/interested folks out there.  Thanks for coming along!

Art Break Wednesday: Ann Goble’s Fine Art

 

Today I have a special treat – for me and for you!

First, I get to meet my friend Ann Goble for lunch.  We try to do this every once in a while – not nearly enough!  Ann has been a dear friend for many years, as we’ve both raised our kids and pursued creative careers as well.  Our sons just graduated, but I know our friendship will long continue.

Now the treat for you – I thought I’d share a bit of Ann’s work here to brighten your day.  I’ll have her back for a real interview soon, but I wanted to whet your appetite.21096_805145ss ann b w head shot

Ann began seriously painting in1999.  She has studied under renowned painters including Roseta Santiago, David Leffel, Gregg Kreutz and Marc Chatov.  Her work has garnered numerous awards and hangs in galleries and private collections.

Her paintings are breathtaking.  Here are some of my favorites:

the-boss goble

The Boss – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

camelia-on-white goble

Camellia on White – – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amber goble

Amber – – ©Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

Ann begins her artist’s statement, “Painting is for me a search for beauty.”  I think you’ll agree she’s found it! You can learn more about Ann and see additional paintings here.

 

SAMSUNG

Horses of Los Cob – © Ann Goble. All rights reserved.

But wait – there’s more!  Ann’s mother,  Ruth I. Money, is also an accomplished painter.  (You know, the apple doesn’t fall…)  Ruth and Ann have exhibited their paintings in the same shows before, and if you happen to live in north Georgia, you can see an exhibit celebrating both their careers.  “Mothers and Daughters” runs until July 19 at The Bowen Center for the Arts.  Click here for more info, directions, and images of paintings –  and feel free to leave some love in the comments below.

Art Break Wednesday: Blown Away by a Book Cover

 

It’s my privilege to write a monthly poetry column over at my friend Janice Hardy’s terrific blog for fiction writers, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.  My offering over there today harkens back to Notan (positive/negative shapes and such) as a simple way to think about characters in a story.  As an example, I borrowed characters from Margarita Engle’s wonderful book, Hurricane Dancers (Henry Holt and Company, 2011).

hurricane dancers cover

jacket illustration ©Cathie Bleck

I think its cover is, like the writing, just exquisite.  The jacket illustration was done by Cathie Bleck.  (The Artist’s Statement on her website sings to me!)  The jacket designers were Rich Deas and Elizabeth Tardiff.

The book has six parts, each comprised of individual poems told in five voices. I love the visual opening each of these as well:

Wild Sea interior hurricane dancers

I don’t know what the lettering/font is called, but I’m also in love with the letters.  Looks to me like blackletter with curlicues and a Western twang (with the “points” peeking out along the stems of the letters.)  Very dynamic.

For a treat, click here to see a video of cover artist Cathie Bleck’s artistic process using kaolin clay.  Many of her incredible paintings as well as some studies and sketchbooks are posted on her site as well.  Enjoy!